Favorite Schools

Favorite Teams

Gambling money in Albany adds up to $3.2 million in political donations, Common Cause says

AP615017383534.JPG

New York voters will decide Nov. 5 whether to expand gaming in New York. A new study out today from Common Cause/NY shows that the gambling industry donated $3.2 million to state lawmakers, the governor and other political committees in the past two years. File photo, 2013, Atlantic City, N.J.
(AP Photo/Wayne Parry)

Syracuse, N.Y. -- During the two years that state lawmakers and Gov. Andrew Cuomo worked toward two separate votes to expand casino gaming in New York, the gaming industry contributed $3.2 million to individual politicians and committees, an Albany watchdog group says.

On Nov. 5, voters will decide whether to approve a change to the state's constitution, which would allow as many as seven Las Vegas-style casinos to operate in New York. Cuomo supports the change, and his office estimates the first four casinos would generate $430 million annually toward school districts and property tax relief.

- The top three recipients represent Albany's classic "three men in a room" - the Assembly Democrats ($414,750), the state Senate Republicans ($403,750), and Gov. Andrew Cuomo ($361,500).

- The chairs of the Racing and Wagering Committees are also important targets: Sen. John Bonacic ($84,836), and Assemblyman James Gary Pretlow ($64,659), both of whom sponsored gambling bills in their respective houses. Pretlow has been chair of the Racing and Wagering Committee for over a decade, raking in more than $64,000 in just the last two and a half years during the push for full legalization. In 2011-2012, Pretlow raised a total of $132,000 - meaning that gambling industry money accounted for nearly half of his fundraising total for 2012.

- Since becoming chair of the Senate's Racing and Wagering Committee in 2011, Bonacic has received over $85,000 from gambling interests. Prior to his appointment, Bonacic received less than $4,000 from the industry. Similarly, Senator Eric Adams received nearly $81,000 in industry dollars during his brief chairmanship in 2009-2010. Previously he hadn't received a single dollar. Since losing his chairmanship in 2010, Adams has received only $13,000 from the industry.